Data Center Census

Burlington, Milam County, TX

Stargate Milam County

Also known as Freebird

Under constructionPhase 1 topped out March 2026; state filing lists Oct 15 completion
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating

A planned 1.2 GW Stargate data center in Milam County, which SoftBank's SB Energy will build and operate, with OpenAI signed as tenant. OpenAI and SoftBank announced the site in September 2025 and each invested $500 million in SB Energy in January 2026. The first phase, code-named Freebird, is a 548,950 sq ft four-hall building that reportedly topped out in March 2026.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Planned capacity1.2 GW [3]
Site size595 acres [9]
Adjacent to SB Energy's Orion Solar Belt project, per June 2025 report
Source excerpt
“The company, owned by SoftBank Group, plans to build multiple data center buildings spanning 1.5 million square feet on 595 acres adjacent to its Orion Solar Belt project, one of the largest solar installations in the country.”
Floor area548,950 sq ft [7]
Phase 1 (Freebird), four data halls, single story
Stated investment$470 million [7]
estimated cost of Phase 1 building per state filing, as reported
Target completionInitial facilities in service starting 2026 (company); Phase 1 filing lists Oct 15 completion; Epoch AI projects full 1.2 GW by Q4 2028 [6]

Power

Power supplySB Energy plans new generation (and storage) to supply most of the campus's power [3]

Water

Water sourceCompany says the site is designed to minimize water use (no figures given) [3]
CoolingClosed-loop water cooling [9]
Source excerpt
“The facilities will use a closed-loop water cooling system and emit minimal light and noise, addressing residents' environmental concerns, company representative Karl Brutsaert said in a public meeting.”

Money & incentives

Tax incentivesMilam County approved a reinvestment zone; county said it would not consider an abatement until SB Energy signed a tenant (as of June 2025) [9]
Source excerpt
“Milam County approved a reinvestment zone, but county officials said they will not consider a tax abatement package until SB Energy signs a tenant.”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. OpenAI and SoftBank announce Milam County as a Stargate site [1]

  2. OpenAI and SoftBank each invest $500M in SB Energy, which will build and operate the site [5]

  3. Phase 1 reported topped out [7]

  4. Filing for 548,950 sq ft Freebird Phase 1 reported [7]

Sources

  1. OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank expand Stargate with five new AI data center sites
    OpenAI · Sep 23, 2025 · company
  2. OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank expand Stargate with five new AI data center sites
    SoftBank Group Corp. · Sep 24, 2025 · company
  3. OpenAI and SoftBank Group partner with SB Energy
    OpenAI · company
  4. OpenAI and SoftBank Group Partner with SB Energy
    SB Energy · company
  5. SoftBank's SB Energy to build and operate OpenAI's 1.2GW Stargate data center in Milam County, Texas
    DCD · Jan 12, 2026 · news
  6. OpenAI Stargate: where the US sites stand
    Epoch AI · Apr 20, 2026 · other
  7. OpenAI Stargate's Milam, Texas, 'Freebird' data center to span 548,950 sq ft in first phase
    DCD · Apr 22, 2026 · news
  8. Stargate Milam County Data Center
    Data Center Map · other
  9. SB Energy's $3B data center bet wants tenants for tax breaks
    The Real Deal · Jun 10, 2025 · news